Gem of the Week: The Offspring ’94 album Smash

10 Sep
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Background shot from my phone

This past Saturday I saw The Offspring perform live and the show was special for fans because they performed their ’94 album Smash in its entirety!

The band has been touring this summer celebrating the 20th anniversary for Smash. For their Detroit show they headlined the 2nd annual local radio sponsored festival called Chill on the Hill, which included other great bands on the bill like Bad Religion. (another one of my favorite bands)

The band also reissued a 20th anniversary collector’s edition of Smash on Cd/Vinyl. I have not purchased the collector edition yet but you can order it from the bands official website at http://offspring.com.

Over the years I have seen The Offspring play live a few times but this show meant a lil’ more to me because 20 years ago I wanted  to see The Offspring when they came with Greenday back in ’94. I still remember the tickets were only $10.00 but I was too young to go to shows alone or buy tickets myself. I tried to win tickets over the radio in hopes that if I got the tickets free that my brother would take me to the show but it never happened. So getting to go to this great reminiscent anniversary show was awesome.

As for their live performance, The Offspring did not disappoint as they poured through the album in their usual high energy and speed. They played Self Esteem last and as an added treat they finished the last half hour of their set playing’ their other hits like Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) and The Kids Aren’t Alright.

I still remember when I first heard the song Come Out and Play and that catchy middle eastern influenced guitar riff instantly hooked me. I also remember Frontman Dexter Holland’s dread-lock era in the b&w music video. I think he looks better now.

Smash will always be a gem of an album to me and I will never forget my first impression of listening to it. It just kicks off in full force with Nitro and doesn’t stop. As a teen there is so much to relate to in that album with songs about things like abuse and addiction. Every track on Smash is catchy and I still love every single song with my personal favorites being Bad Habit and Something To Believe In.

I will never tire from listening to that album. I also figure the band had to name it Smash when they finished recording it because it really could not be called anything less than Smash!

Below is a link shared from Epitaph Records YouTube Channel of Something To Believe In from Smash.

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Gem of the Week: “Me and Daniel Tosh” by Krispy Kreme

3 Sep

tosh

My gem this week goes to the episode of Tosh.0 (2012) featuring rapper Krispy Kreme’s video called Me and Daniel Tosh.

Watching stupid viral videos has become a guilty pleasure and the video for Me and Daniel Tosh is a great indulgence.

Tosh featured Kreme on the show for his then viral video called The Baddest. Kreme used a rap persona of being southern and not too sharp making ridiculous rap videos with his best friend Money Maker Mike. 

But it’s the rap with Tosh that I loved, especially the video. Tosh looks like he is towering over Kreme in height and I liked their silly facial expressions and the cliché moves with the fisheye shots.

I guess Kreme changed his name to Froggy Fresh and he has an official website under his Froggy Fresh name at www.froggyfresh.com.  Whichever persona he was, is and will be all I know is his videos are funny and the one he did for Tosh is my pick.

Under a quick wiki search I read that his real name is supposedly Tyler Cassidy and he is actually from Detroit.

I am not sure why I like this guy so much maybe it is because I found out he is from Detroit or maybe I just like his stupid funny brand of comedy rap.

I’ll admit some of his videos made me laugh hysterically and some made me wonder if he really is pretending but despite the guessing game his videos have gone viral.

Below I shared the link from ComedyCentral You Tube Channel showing the video for Me and Daniel Tosh.

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Pop Culture Reflection: MTV 2014 VMAs

27 Aug

happy

I have not watched an MTV Video Music Awards show in years and when I caught part of it this past Sunday everything seemed so different. Here is what I noticed and what has changed about the VMAs:

The VMAs was not held at Radio City Music Hall in N.Y. instead it was at the Forum in L.A.

I wasn’t familiar with the host or half of the nominees.

There was no hard rock presence whatsoever!

There are categories for awards like Best Video With A Social Message and Artist to Watch!?

The wardrobe style is to wear next to nothing in a glittery and fish netted fashion.

Aside from those changes, the only two artist nominees that I liked from the choices were Eminem and Pharrell Williams.

Eminem is at least a good hip-hop artist who brings back the old school influence. He also represents my hometown of Detroit.

I really like the song Happy by Williams because it’s catchy and I think it beats the competition. Unfortunately, he didn’t win a VMA!

The MTV VMAs just doesn’t appeal to me anymore and it hasn’t in years.

I’m also sadly accepting that hard rock is missing from todays pop dominated music scene and that my beloved rock bands are now considered classic rock!

Below is the video for Happy shared from PharrellWilliamsVEVO You Tube Channel and I think this one really deserved a win.

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Gem of the Week: “Flood” by Jars of Clay

20 Aug

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The song Flood by christian alternative band Jars of Clay came to mind after Detroit got hit with historic heavy rain last week. This song is an old gem from my 90s collection.

I remember when I first heard Flood back in ’95  It surprised me that it was such a good song coming from a christian band. This song changed my perception that not all christian rock was lame. There was nothing lame about Flood it was catchy and fast with a raw acoustic quality. The lyrics were uplifting and passionate. The band’s style also fit in with the rest of the alternative grungy sound of the time.

I didn’t follow the band all these years even though I liked their ’95 self titled debut album which had other good tracks I listened to like Love Song for a Savior and Blind.

The band is currently celebrating 20 years of success as indicated by a creative You Tube clip when you go to their website www.jarsofclay.com. They just released a 2 CD fan favorite greatest hits titled 20 yesterday. (August 19th)

According to their website the songs are all newly recorded and includes two new tracks. Basically they did not compile your run of the mill collection. I noticed that it actually doesn’t even include Flood but I listened through 20 on iTunes and I really like it. The songs are acoustic with a fresh spin on things.

I guess my timing to reflect on their debut hit from the 90s fits right into their 20 year celebration which is cool!

Below is the link for the music video to Flood, You Tube had some different versions of the video. I found the original video on Daily Motion.

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9m4k8_jars-of-clay-flood_music

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Pop Culture Reflection: Robin Williams

13 Aug

robin

The news that legendary oscar-winning actor Robin Williams is gone at age 63 has been a heartbreaking shockwave.

Hearing the media unfold details yesterday about his depression battle and suicide is a sad and tragic loss.

Williams was a great talent with Detroit roots. According to an article in The Detroit News, he grew up in Bloomfield Hills, MI and attended Detroit Country Day School.

I always felt that Williams was a super talented guy. He had that genius ability to do it all from impersonations, ad-lib, acting in comedic or dramatic roles and everything in between.

I loved his sense of humor and he has been making me laugh since I was a kid. I remember watching him in Mork & Mindy reruns and hearing his most remembered alien salute, “Na-Nu Na-Nu.”

He has made so many great movies but my favorites include, Dead Poets Society (1989) which I came to appreciate when I watched it again in my late teens. It’s one of those inspiring movies that made a lasting impression on me. In middle school I loved Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and even as an adult it remains a classic favorite. I also really liked his dramatic performance in One Hour Photo (2002). I use to work in a photo lab and customers would ask me if I had watched the movie or I would get people who would say: “Hey your like Robin Williams in that movie.” The comments use to make me wonder if people understood that the movie was more about loneliness than photography. But it also shows the impact and perception Williams had and created with his characters.

I recognize that Williams was a gifted man who was one of a kind. I will always appreciate him for all of those iconic movie roles he played.

Below is an awesome Dead Poets Society clip shared from Fondablaster’s You Tube Channel.

 

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Gem of the Week: Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

6 Aug

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My gem this week goes out to Canadian instrumental rock band, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.

This is one of those under the radar bands that I listened to in my teens. No one I ever talk to recognizes them by name but are usually familiar with their most well-known song, Having an Average Weekend, from their 1990 album Savvy Show Stoppers. The 90s sketch comedy show Kids in the Hall used the song for its theme.

Since I am reflecting on them this week and it’s been so long since I have even thought about them, I tried researching to see what’s new with the band.

I couldn’t find an official website but they have a Facebook page showing they are together and playing local shows in Toronto, Canada.

I am really glad to see they are still around because they are a talented  band.

According to their Facebook page they have been playing since 1984.

I was not a huge fan of Kids in the Hall but I loved the theme song. I didn’t know the name of the song and I remember the credits to the show always ran too fast for me to catch it.

So while out shopping one day I decided to ask someone at the record store in the mall. I walked straight up to the store clerk and started telling him how I liked this song but I didn’t know the name of it. I got stuck for a moment trying to figure out how to describe how it sounds since the song is an instrumental. I then blurted out, “Hey! Have you ever watched The Kids in the Hall?!”  Before I could finish he ran over to an aisle and came back holding a CD that had a bold orange cover. He handed it to me and pointed on the back telling me the song title and indicating the track number, of course I was ecstatic. He also told me the band was from Canada and that I would love them.

The clerk was right because I ended up liking that entire album. The first track Good Cop Bad Cop just starts the album in a badass direction and I use to really like the scratchy riff in Run Chicken Run. My favorite song from the whole album was Bennett Cerf. I felt it was even more catchy then Having an Average Weekend.  All I can say is that it’s simply an amazing instrumental rock/ alternative album.

This band has a special place in my collection because I can specifically remember that whole experience of buying the album, discovering this band and how great I thought the music was when I first  listened to it.

I would also like to compliment them for choosing one of the coolest and most creative names for a band!

I have shared the link of the band performing Having an Average Weekend live from  Rivum_nation’s You Tube Channel.

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Gem of the Week: “Misirlou” By Dick Dale

30 Jul

 

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Phone shot from the show

I finally saw Dick Dale, king of the surf guitar, in action last Wednesday!  Dale performed at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, MI.

He has played shows there pretty much annually for years. This year was my first time going to see him and it was long overdue.

The show was awesome and he can pick a guitar with crazy speed.

I’m still buzzing this week from show and my gem of the week is of course, Misirlou.

According to his official site www.dickdale.com, he became famous for creating the surf sound in the 50s and he use to break attendance records when he would play live shows in CA with his band The Del-Tones during the 60s. He is also a cancer survivor.

Dale’s era was before my time but I gained exposure to his music in 1994 after Quentin Tarantino opened his hit movie Pulp Fiction with the song Misirlou. Tarantino’s use of the song gained Dale a new younger fan base and I’m happy that I am one of them.

I have listened to his early albums mostly and I really like King of the Surf Guitar ’63.

My favorite songs are Nitro, Spanish Kiss, Let’s Go Trippin‘ and his cover of Riders In The Sky.

He actually opened the show with Nitro which kicked things off to a great start. The best aspect of the show was that it was an intimate setting and you can enjoy and appreciate the music.

Dale was quite the entertaining guy on stage too. During the show he joked that he might start a song and then in the middle start playing a different song. He further stated if he does this it’s because he forgets what song he was playing and for us fans to consider it as a two for one.

He is a phenomenal guitar player that is amazing to see live and I look forward to attending the next show!

Below is the clip of the opening credits to Pulp Fiction shared from Manoffaith108’s You Tube channel.

 

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Legends of Rock: Pennywise

23 Jul

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With frontman Jim Lindberg back with the band as of 2012, punk legends Pennywise released their 11th studio album, Yesterdays on July 15th!

The band originally formed in ’88 and are from Southern California. They are one of my favorite bands to see live. The best part is that their style remains rooted in classic hardcore punk.

I listened to Yesterdays and it sounds like classic Pennywise. I’m really liking: Violence Never Ending, She’s A Winner. I also like the track Thanksgiving because it has a positive message in the refrain that I like:

“Think about all that you have, not about what you can’t get.”

The whole album is catchy and definitely in the vain of their older stuff with the sound quality being raw.

According to the bands’ official website Pennywisdom.com, Yesterdays is part material written by original bassist Jason Thirsk who passed away in 1996 as well as outtakes from albums like ’97 Full Circle and ’99  Straight Ahead.

It seems like the band had a goal to go back to their roots with the latest album.

The last live show I went to was when they came to Detroit in 2009. This was right around the time Lindberg announced he was leaving the band after 20 years. I thought that show was the last  Pennywise show I was ever going to see in awhile. I’m so happy that it is not and that they are touring again.

Between 2010 and 2012 Pennywise replaced Lindberg with Zoli Teglas who was from the band Ignite. They recorded the album All Or Nothing in ’10 with Teglas. The album was ok and trademark in loud and fast speed but the feel and attitude just wasn’t the same.

Meanwhile Lindberg started his own music project too. He formed the band The Black Pacific in 2010 and released a self titled debut album which sounded good, but again I feel he has more impact when he is with Pennywise.

I am super happy things are back in place with the band because Lindberg is a cool guy. He even released a book in 2007 titled Punk Rock Dad. I liked the book and it was about him raising his three daughters and juggling being the frontman in a punk band.

Aside from Pennywise being a great band to watch live, I also love how they are cool to their fans.  Currently posted on their website is a chance for fans to win a free copy of Yesterdays, if the band likes your response via Twitter to what keeps you in a positive state of mind.

In an older blog post titled Where Have All My Music Stores Gone! I told the story of how I purchased my first Pennywise album, About Time ’95. I was trying to learn guitar at the time and I was curious about Pennywise because the album artwork caught my eye when I browsed the used section at my local record store. After I saw it marked for $4.00 I decided to buy it and check it out.

I remember the first track Peaceful Day was drawing me in and when I got to the fourth track Every Single Day, I was  hooked. That song was motivating and powerful. The lyrics said everything I was feeling around that time in my life.

I’ve been a fan for the last 15 years and they have songs that are punk gems, like Society, Land of the Free, Waiting and of course their signature encore songs at live shows, Bro Hymn and Fuck Authority.

While About Time is my all time favorite Pennywise album, I also love Unknown Road ’93 and Full Circle ’97.

I started going to their live shows after seeing them at The Warped Tour. Ever since then I have kept up closely with their music and tour dates.

My favorite shows that I went to was for the albums Land of the Free ’01 and From The Ashes. ’03 Those two shows rocked with great music and I carry memories of joking around with my friend, watching a mom try to mosh with her teen son, and even little things like still being able to smoke inside a venue.

Last week I talked about what The Ramones meant to me and how the loss of their last founding member Tommy Ramone is a big loss because there are not a lot of bands who can continue what the Ramones brought to rock ‘n’ roll.

However, Pennywise is a band still rooted in old school punk who can carry the torch for what bands like the Ramones started. I hope they continue to make great hardcore music.

Below is a link shared from the EpitaphRecords You Tube Channel for the new track I like, Violence Never Ending.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Legends of Rock: The Ramones

16 Jul

 

ramone

The Ramones are one of the most influential bands in my life and this past friday Tommy Ramone who was the last surviving member passed away!

Their legacy is known for pioneering the punk movement and by creating a following at the CBGB which was then a hole in the wall New York music venue.

I’m deeply saddened that all of them are now gone  R.I.P:

Joey Ramone, lead singer  (1951-2001),

Dee Dee Ramone, bassist  (1952-2002)

Johnny Ramone, lead guitarist  (1948-2004)

Tommy Ramone, drummer  (1949-2014).

Even the bands spokesman and designer, Arturo Vega who  designed the bands awesome presidential seal logo passed away in 2005.

Nothing has ever impressed me more than some loud and fast Ramones. Their music means so much to me and I hope I can put enough words together to express my appreciation for them.

My attraction to The Ramones started when they released their last studio album ¡Adiós Amigos! (1995). At that time I was 14 years old and only familiar with their well-known hits like Blitzkrieg Bop and I Wanna be Sedated. The radio played I Don’t Want To Grow Up and I loved the song and that opened me up to their music.

The Ramones mania and genius of their simplicity didn’t sink in until I joined a comedy/punk/new wave band in 2002.

The band I joined carried a sound heavy in drum machines and keyboards. I was supposed to play guitar but ended up playin’ bass keys instead. I found it was tough trying to merge our sound and play in the same style but The Ramones were a mutual influence to all of us. Ramones songs all have simple chord progressions that are easy to love.

We practiced covering Beat On The Brat from their (1976) debut self titled album even though we never did play it live.

I bought music books  about The Ramones to learn and study them, I recall reading in one of those books that they had issues with playing and singing at the same time. I related to this as I also found it tough to sing background vocals while keeping up with a beat.

However, The Ramones took their limitations and turned it around making it work for them instead of against them.

They gave rock ‘n’ roll meaning by creating one ingenious system that first cut out all the image based bullshit. They formed a brotherhood with all of them taking the surname Ramone and wore  black leather jackets, torn jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. The songs had  loud and fast simple beats, three chord guitar riffs and less serious more cynical lyrics.

I love the first four Ramones albums from their debut: Ramones (1976), Leave Home (1977), Rocket To Russia (1977) and Road To Ruin (1978).

Rocket To Russia is my favorite album: Cretin Hop, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Teenage Lobotomy and We’re a Happy Family, are all gems to me.

The Ramones never got big enough commercially during their two decades as a band but they live on to inspire.

In 2002 the band got inducted into the rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame; they also earned a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2011.

Left to carry on the brotherhood legacy is Marky Ramone and Richie Ramone, former drummers after Tommy Ramone left in 1977 and CJ Ramone who took over on bass after Dee Dee left in the late 80s.

I have formed a special collection of Ramones shirts. For over the past 10 years these shirts have become a weird part of my casual wardrobe, as I like to billboard the Ramones.

**Below is a short paragraph that I had written in 2002 about The Ramones live performance scene from the 1979 movie Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. I wrote it intending for it to go under the influences section for a Yahoo GeoCities page that was for the band I was in. I never posted it to the band page but it’s one of those writing blurbs that I hung on to and it describes how I felt about The Ramones music during that time in my life.

The Ramones live performance segment in that 70s Rock `n` Roll High School flick blew me away.  The leaflet inside the movie stated that the Ramones played a 22-hour marathon set in Hollywood to get the right sequences for the movie. That makes them warriors in my book.   My arm is sore after playing guitar for 20 minutes. I am so influenced by watching that entire concert scene; I mean my desire to make it in a band just skyrocketed. In the movie you could see that The Ramones are normal guys who are not dressed to impress. Nobody seemed like they got tired of being on stage. Joey Ramone was confident and you can see that he put everything into his performance.  He stood lanky and humble with his hair dangling in his face. The Ramones were true rock stars. 

I have shared a link to a clip from the movie from Josteopal’s You Tube channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gem of the Week: “In The Blood” By Better Than Ezra

9 Jul

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I saw an e-mail flyer that Better Than Ezra was coming to Detroit on October 18th. I didn’t know they were still around but their 90s hit In The Blood sticks out in my head.

The band left their mark in the 90s back with their hit Good from their 1995 album Deluxe. I did not particularly care about that song but I loved In The Blood.

It was a catchy song with a cool b&w music video. It’s been years since I have listened to it but I still think it’s a great song.

I never really became a big fan of the band but they were in my album collection during the 90’s.

I guess they kept in the game all these years. I checked out their official site www.betterthanezra.com and it shows that they released their eighth studio album this past year called All Together Now.

I listened to their new single called Crazy Lucky and it sounds like they have gone in a more popish direction now.

I had the album Deluxe on cassette (I feel so old) and I remember only liking a couple of songs. But I played and rewinded the heck out of In The Blood.

The more I reflect about the 90’s rock era the closer those old gems keep popping out at me!  Not that I ever tire from revisiting old gems or discovering new ones!

Below is the link to the video shared from the You Tube Channel of Skappyj.

 

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